Seal.



A. B. GARDELLA. SEAL. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1909.

ANDIll'W B. GRAHAM co. mMo-umocannlrm WASHINOTON. b

Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

ALBERT B. GARDELLA, 0F COR-LETT, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

SEAL.

't'atcnter Mar. 15, 1910.

Application filed September 23, 1909. Serial No. 519,128.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALnnnr l3. Ganonnna, citizen of the United States, residing at Corlett, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to seals for securely connecting the ends of wires or the like which are passed around boxes, crates, etc, for the purpose of sealing the box or other object as the caseinay be.

Seals are generally used in closing boxes, etc, to be shipped or expressed against the inspection and removal of articles therein without the destruction of the seal. It frequently occurs in sending boxes by freight or express that the same are opened while en route to their destination and the contents are lneddled with and often removed by inquisitive and malicious persons. It is known that seals of this character exist butthey lack the propcrefliciency and it is therefore the object of this invention to provide a cheap, etlicient and convenient means for securing the ends of a wire which is passed tightly around an object to close same from being opened without the destruction of the seal, the seal, if damaged, indicating that the box had been tampered with.

The invention consists in several improve ments in seals now in use comprising a novel construction as is shown in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings of the inventionFigure 1 is a plan of the seal blank; Fig. 2 is a perspective of the seal when bent in shape ready for use; and Fig. 3 is a similar view of the seal when applied to a box.

Similar reference figures indicate similar parts throughout the several drawings.

The seal is stamped from sheet metal, preferably of such quality that will endure but little bending, or, which is easily breakable but having sufiicient bending property. The blank or plate of the seal is of rectangular shape having punched therein a hole 7 near the front edge and in the center thereof, and is provided with a slit 9 from the front edge of the blank to hole 7 in a radial and longitudinal direction with respect to said hole and the blank, thus forming opposed lips 8. The plate also has two holes 6 and 6 disposed slightly away from the central longitudinal line of the blank on each side thereof and close to the rear of the hole 7 to form weak portions 13 between hole 7 and holes 6 and 6. The plate is also provided with slits 12 and 12 extending tan gentially and rearwardly from the outer edges of the respective holes 6 and 6 to form fingers 5 and 5, said slits diverging to the sides of the blank to form teeth at and a on the ends of respective fingers 5 and 5. A. transverse slit 2 is cut in the rear end of the blank, and a hole 3 disposed in front of slit- 2 having a V shaped notch in the edge nearest slit 2. Cuts 16 and 16 are also made across the base of fingers 5 and 5 to weaken said fingers; and that portion of the blank between slit 2 and hole 3 is raised to form a channel 14:. This leaves the blank ready for bending as is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The blank thus formed is bent on the transverse dotted line passing through upper edge of hole 3 in Fig. 1 to form an angle having upper flange 1 and rear flange 1. Lips 8 are bent upward, to allow a wire to be passed therebetween and under same, on the dotted lines across the bases thereof in said figure. Fingers and 5 are bent up on the cuts 16 and 16 at the base thereof and teeth 4 and at are bent downward on the dotted lines shown. The corners of the seal are bentdown to form teeth 10 to grip the box or other object when forced thereon. The seal thus formed or bent is ready for use as is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In use, the end 11 of a suitable wire is passed down channel l t with its extreme end projecting out the slit 2, and the wire is then bent back over the notch in hole 3. The channel 14 is just large enough to allow the wire to pass snugly therethrough and when the main portion of the wire is bent over notch in hole 3 and held taut it provides a secure means for holding the end 11 of the wire unremovable when seal is applied to a box or other object. The channel therefore is a convenient and secure means for securing the rear end of the wire or that end which is first attached to the seal. The V notch in the hole 3 also prevents the wire from being moved laterally and is of great benefit. When the end 11 has thus been engaged with the rear flange of the seal, the seal is placed on the corner or edge of the box, crate, or the like and the wire is tightly wound around same to bring the end 11 of the wire longitudinally to the fore end of the seal or the upper flange l. The wire is wrapped around the object in such a manner that it cannot be loosened. The end 11 is secured to the upper flange by first passing it between and under lips 8, up hole 7 to the surface of the seal and it is then tightly drawn in back of finger 5 and around the front of said finger and finger 5, and from front of finger 5 it is bent in back thereof and thence to hole 7 to bring the extreme end under lips 8. The lips 8 and lingers 5 and 5 are then hammered down to clench or clamp the wire below same, zeeth and t being forced into the object to hold fingers 5 and 5 dew and also to prevent movement of the seal. Lips 8 prevent removal of the end of the wire. In this or a similar manner the ends of the wire are attached to the seal and are held unremovable without the destruction of the seal. Teeth 10 grip the box and prevent moven'ientof the seal.

The wire having been stretched tightly prevents the ends thereof from being slack ened and consequently the wire cannot be disengaged from the seal without tampering with same. To open the box. it is necessary to release the end 11 of the wire. be attempted in several manners; by prying up one of the front corners of the upper flange to release the extreme end of the wire but in doing this the seal breaks at the point 13 nearest that corner; by withdrawing the extreme end of the wire from under lips 8 by force and bending fingers 5 and 5 up to unwind the wire, this however resulting in the breaking of the fingers 5 and 5 on the cuts 10 and 16; or in other manner, but the seal will always break at the points 13 or on cuts 16 and 1G. The cuts 16 and 16 are just deep enough to allow the fingers to be bent up to wind the wire thereon and to be clamped down, any further bending of same causing a breakage.

With proper quality and thickness of metal it has been found upon experimentthat when once placed on a box, the seal can not be removed without its destruction. The seal under ordinary circumstances will not break.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1. A seal of the character described, com prising an angular plate adapted to lit the corner of a box or the like and having a I This can channel and an opening in one arm thereof, a wire one end of which is hooked through the opening and into the channel and extends between the said arm and one side of the corner, and means on the other arm to hold the other end of the wire, whereby the first mentioned arm is held against the side of the corner.

2. In a seal of the character described, a plate adapted to be applied to a box or the like and having a rearwardly extending clamping finger, and also a slit with a clamping hp at the'edge of the slit and in front of the finger, a wire bent around said finger and extending through said slit and having its end clamped under the said lip, and means to hold the free end of the wire taut with respect to the said plate.

In seal of the character described, a plate adapted to be applied to a wooden box or the like, and having a rearwardly extending clamping finger, said finger being provided with a tooth at its free end to engage the box, and a clamping lip in front of the same. a wire bent around said finger with its end clamped under the said lip, that portion of the plate between the finger and lip being weakened, and means to secure the free end of the wire to hold the said wire taut.

41-. In a seal of the character described, a plate adapted to be applied to a wooden box or the like, and having a rearwardly extending clamping finger having a cut across its base, and a tooth at its free end, to engage the box, a wire bent around said finger and clamped thereunder, and means to secure the free end of the wire to hold the said wire taut.

In a seal of the character described, a plate having a rearwardly extending clamping finger at each side edge thereof, clamping lips located between the sides thereof and in front of said fingers, and a wire passing under said lips and around the respective fingers and back under a lip, the portion of the plate between the said finger and. lips being comparatively weak and easily breakable.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT B. GARDELLA. iVitnesses JOHN R. MILLER, MONROE E. MILLER. 

